Greek Steps Show celebrates black history, culture

Jenny Baragary

More than 400 people filled City Hall Auditorium on Saturday to see members of multicultural fraternities and sororities perform in Steps Show routines, celebrating black history and traditions in honor of Black History Month.

“There was very positive energy here tonight,” said Stella Okeke, National Pan-Hellenic Council president. “It was a really good event for NPHC and for an organization of our size.”

Omega Psi Phi — using a military theme and wearing gold boots and camouflage — finished the show and got the crowd going with chanting and stomping.

The annual Steps Show, held as part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council’s Greek Fest, promotes multicultural fraternities and sororities, bringing the greek community and the university together.

The show featured performances from six multicultural greek and campus organizations.

ISU students, alumni and more than 60 students from Drake University were in attendance.

Jamarr Buchanan, senior in mechanical engineering, said he came to the show because there are not many opportunities to see different cultures at Iowa State and in Ames.

“The show adds to the diversity of Ames,” Buchanan said.

“There are not many events like this here.”

Shannan Skidmore, senior in Spanish, is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, a Collegiate Panhellenic Council sorority.

“We always try to support other greek organizations,” Skidmore said.

“I’m a member of the Hip Hop Club, so it’s always good to see what other groups are doing, too.”

Three multicultural greek organizations performed and three campus organizations performed, including the Marching Cyclones Drill Team and the Hip Hop Dance Club.

An alumnus from each of the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities served as judges for the show.

Sigma Lambda Gamma won the top prize in the sorority category, and Omega Psi Phi won the top prize in the fraternity category. The winners received $600 to put toward their organization.